Spanish and Cooking in Madrid: Introduction

Madrid is a melting pot for the cuisines from all over the peninsula. Gourmets sometimes argue whether Madrid cuisine exists or not, but the truth is that the capital of Spain has enriched its gastronomy with the contributions of the Andalusians, Galicians, Asturians and other immigrants who have settled here. A good number of dishes and recipes can be named however which can be considered typical of Madrid such as callos, cocido madileño, sopa de ajo, and torrijas or buñuelos if you have a sweet tooth. Its food is also famous as a Mediterranean cuisine and other plates such as paella and Spanish tortilla are renowned. Its fish dishes such as besugo al horno and an extensive selection of nouvelle cuisine are also not to be missed.

This program offers a selection from a variety of cuisines, as well as wine tasting and tapa bar hopping according to the schedule during the time of your participation.

 

    

  

   

 

 

Spanish and Cooking in Madrid: Program Features

Program Features

• Small groups: 6 to 12 participants.
• Commencing first Monday of month (except legal holidays).
• Duration: 1 week (extendible with 40% discount).
• No language requirement. We offer 8 levels of language classes from complete beginners to composition classes for advanced speakers. Most of our staff is bilingual.
• Accommodation options.
• Designed for active travelers who prefer around 50/50 organized activities with free time.

 Academic Features

The internship program provides an intensive language course in a centric specialized language academy upon your arrival. This course will prepare you for cultural immersion socially and linguistically.

 Cultural and Social Features

• The cultural services provided by this program include contact with a popular free time activities club in Madrid. Almost every weekend there are excursions at student prices which most participants take advantage of. You will find out why Spain is the most visited country in the world for long-term tourism and why Spain has so many monuments listed by the United Nations as World Heritage sites.
• Many of the cultural activities are free: concerts, walking tours, interchanges, lectures, exhibits. etc. BEST Language Services has very close ties with the worlds of art, music and travel. These afford us inside information which we regularly pass on to our Intern Program participants.

 

Cooking Features

Cooking fits in with BEST's philosophy of experiential learning: Before you've practiced, the theory is useless. After you've practiced, the theory is obvious. Lessons are taught by certified teachers, often bilingual. The schools, are centric within easy communcation by metro or taxi. There is everything else you might need to make this an up-market, unforgettable experience. Classes in various or just one type of Mediterranean or Spanish cooking are available according to the time of your participation.

 

Spanish and Cooking in Madrid: Language Course

Before the commencement of the internship program you will attend an Intensive Spanish course which consists of:

• 20 hours of Spanish classes (1 week from 9am-12:30pm Monday to Friday). There is a maximum of 8 students in each class, average 5. All teachers are native Spanish speakers, educated to at least degree level and with specific teaching qualifications.
  
  
  
• Cultural and Social Activities Program, which is aimed at improving your knowledge of Madrid itself (through our walking tours of the city and visits to world-famous art museums) and also the culture and customs of Spain. This program also involves evenings, where you can enjoy food and drink typical of Spain, whilst making friends with other students from the school. Some events are free and others have a small charge.
• Our school is centrally located in an up-market neighborhood of Madrid. It is a fully-equipped, specialized language schools for internsive language courses in Spanish.
• There are plenty of opportunities to participate in class conversations and to get to know your classmates from all over the world.
• See list of legal holidays which cannot be made up.
   

The school provides:

• Placement test
• Orientation pack
• Free access to the internet from 8.30am until 9.30pm school's computer terminals and wifi.
• Library service
• Conversation Exchange with native Spanish speakers
• 24h emergency number
• End of course certificate

 

Spanish and Cooking in Madrid: Lodging

We give you the option to arrange your own lodging in traditional hotel accommodation and extract it from the program fee or to include it in the program. Included alternatives 1 and 2 are listed below. These choices depend on whether you prefer an accompanied or more independent lifestyle.

1. Living in a Spanish host family to gain maximum contact with Spaniards and learn about the Spanish way of life. This option is for those who seek an immersion in Spanish culture (included in program cost).
     
    

2. Lodging in fully-equipped shared apartments with other program participants or native Spaniards (included in program cost).
       
    

3. Deluxe accommodation in apart/hotels (not included in program cost).
       

 

Spanish and Cooking in Madrid: Applying

START DATES

Programs start every Monday year long, except holidays.

HOW TO SIGN UP

• Fill out online application form.
• Method of payments for 300 euros deductible deposit: Online payment.
• Send us a scanned copy of your passport(s) by email.
• We will send you a list of available courses during the dates of your participation to choose from.
• You will receive registration confirmations and a detailed itinerary (with individually verifiable dates, names, addresses, descriptions, photos, maps, etc. before final billing.
• Send us a copy of your arrival details. (flight, airline, date, time, terminal, flight number). Plan your arrival for the Sunday preceding the commencement of the program.

For questions, or to set up a telephone interview write us 365/24.
We will confirm reception of all applications and payments.

 

Spanish and Cooking in Madrid: Terms & Fees

COST PER PERSON

1200 Euros/week (Second week: 800 Euros).

Payment is in euros. Dollar amounts are approximate and may fluctuate with daily exchange rates. All itineraries and prices are subject to change. Full payment is due before arrival. There is a 100 euro surcharge for payments made after arrival. Bookings with 8 weeks advanced notice. Inquire about rush placements if you have less time.

INCLUDED HIGHLIGHTS

• Transfers from and to Madrid's Barajas airport.
• 50/50 balance between organized activities and time to explore on your own.
• Option for 14 nights lodging in Madrid in shared apartments with Spanish family or apartments with Spaniards and/or other program participants.
• One-week intensive language course.
• Full-coverage health and accident insurance.
• Orientation pack.
• Optional cultural activities coordinator for those who want more or can't get enough, with free and small fee activities.
• 10 cooking classes to choose from such as: Mediterranean, Sweets, Tapas, Spanish, Sea Food, Seasonal Menus, etc.
• Madrid based bilingual staff.
• Free Internet access at Spanish school.
• Testing, materials, certificates, value-added taxes.
• Low bureaucracy.

Not included: Transportation (except transfers), normal meals, communication costs and personal expenses.